MotorStar Zest X110-III

Being conventional has its distinct advantages. And in the small capacity underbone market, the convention for a long time has been set by the Honda Wave. It is not difficult to see the resemblance in the MotorStar Zest-X110 III. And going for something as tried and tested as the Wave is actually one of the best aspects of this cheap underbone. And certainly not something that has never been done before. It takes the scooter like approach with its front fascia. This gives it a full sized but narrow apron and a scooter like a headlight pod. The indicators, however, are mounted on the apron and not next to the headlight. The front fender rides above the front wheel with a lot of clearance between the wheel and itself. As we move back we find some sporty touches like the fake vents and the way the front apron has been integrated to the rest of the body. The tail section is upswept but not impractically so. The tail light gets a similar treatment with indicators integrated into the brake light. There are enough touches like the indicators mounted in recesses in the front apron and a pointy headlamp that help it stand out. The chrome plated silencer, however, harkens back to the industrial age. The wheels are 17” spoked and wrapped with 2.5 front and 2.75 rear tires. The instrumentation is as basic as you would expect but it looks and feels modern. The quality of the plastics could also be a bit better. But at this price, some compromises are to be expected. The bike has compact dimensions with a length of 1975 mm, width of 700 mm and height of 1095 mm.

There are conventional telescopic front forks and dual shock absorbers for the rear. The seating position is comfortable and relaxed with a high handlebar. The handling is like a commuter and the 1235 mm wheelbase keeps it adequately nimble on city roads.

Powering the MotorStar Zest X110-III is a 106cc air-cooled and carbureted engine. MotorStar has not provided official power and torque figures. But similar engines produce around 7 hp and 7 Nm of torque. Weighing a lightweight 95 kg, the engine is enough to push it to speeds of up to 95 kmph. It comes with both an electric and a kick starter. Maximum load capacity is rated at 150 kg.

MotorStar Zest X110-III comes equipped with a disc brake for the front and a drum brake for the rear. This is a very capable setup that allows it to also keep its price low.

The existence of the Zest X110-IIIM with slightly more premium equipment at just a fraction of the price more, makes the decision slightly complicated. But irrespective of what you buy, you will have on your hands an affordable commuter underbone that will serve all your commuting needs. There is the slight issue of its Chinese origin that will take some getting over too. But at this price range, this is a solid buy.